City: Bischoff's biggest test

MIKKEL Bischoff has six months to prove he has what it takes to be a Premiership star. City's 23-year-old Danish defender has been bedevilled by injury since he arrived from AB Copenhagen and, despite a successful loan spell at Wolves, has never been able to earn a spot in the Blues' first team.

MIKKEL Bischoff has six months to prove he has what it takes to be a Premiership star.

City's 23-year-old Danish defender has been bedevilled by injury since he arrived from AB Copenhagen and, despite a successful loan spell at Wolves, has never been able to earn a spot in the Blues' first team.

One league start and one cup appearance make up the sum total of Bischoff's first-team experience under Kevin Keegan and Stuart Pearce, and he knows time is running out on his chance to establish himself with the Blues.

The form of Richard Dunne and Sylvain Distin and the emergence of Nedum Onuoha and Micah Richards have pushed the pacy Bischoff further down the pecking order and his contract runs out at the end of the season.

Blues boss Stuart Pearce has, however, refused to write off the centre-half, even at this late stage.

"It's been similar for him as for Nicky Weaver, he's had frustrating injuries," Pearce said.

"Mikkel had a shoulder problem, then his ankle went in pre-season. It's been frustrating for him in that he's never had a clear run at it, not enough to say, `I'm going to put six months together and show what I can do.'

Patient

"Starting fit and healthy and having a run of football is important because Mikkel has got a lot to prove to us at this football club.

"Things were going in the right direction for him in pre-season and then he got the ankle injury, so he's going to have to be patient. He's a good professional and a good man to have around the place so the ball is in his court. Hopefully he'll be back sometime next week."

City's first-team squad will get four days off this weekend as Pearce attempts to freshen them up for the next batch of games, which include home matches against West Ham and Villa and a trip to Arsenal.

But they will go into their mini holiday having been put through a series of rigorous fitness checks.

"We've used the early part of this week to do tests on the players," revealed Pearce. "We had a hard day yesterday now the players can put their feet up and relax.

"International breaks are a benefit; from a manager's and a coach's point of view, it gives time to sit and rethink how you are going and how you can improve. From the players point of view, they can switch off mentally, which is always a good thing I believe."

Robbie Fowler will spend some of his first day off signing his autobiography and greeting fans at Waterstone's in Deansgate from 6pm this evening.